The latest purchase will take the total number of public buses running on batteries here to 420. - PHOTO: ST FILE
SINGAPORE: A total of 360 new electric buses will be added to the public bus fleet here, after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore awarded contracts worth $166.4 million to two companies in the biggest purchase of its kind.
To support the roll-out of the new battery-powered vehicles, another two contracts worth $46.1 million were also awarded for the deployment of charging systems at bus depots currently being built in Sengkang West, East Coast and Gali Batu.
This latest purchase will take the total number of public buses running on batteries here to 420, which is about 7 per cent of the current overall fleet.
LTA had earlier bought 60 electric buses in 2018 for about $50 million as part of a pilot scheme to test the new technology. At the end of 2022, there were 5,847 public buses in all.
The awarding of the new contracts is part of the Government’s efforts to overhaul Singapore’s public bus fleet so that half of them will run on batteries by 2030.
“More commuters will get to enjoy cleaner, quieter rides,” said Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, who announced the purchase of the new buses on Nov 25.
He said electrification of the public bus fleet is an important part of reducing emissions from the land transport sector, which currently accounts for 15 per cent of the carbon dioxide Singapore produces.
“Our target is to achieve net-zero by 2050. It is some time away, but we need to start now. We cannot wait and do nothing,” he added.
All 360 new electric buses will be single-deckers with three doors, and they will come with display systems to provide commuters with audio and visual information about their journeys.
The buses will also be equipped with a collision warning system, an anti-fatigue system for drivers, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
LTA said the new electric buses will be progressively deployed for passenger service from December 2024 to replace diesel buses that are reaching the end of their 17-year statutory lifespans. It did not say when the 360 buses would be fully deployed.
LTA added: “More tenders for electric buses and infrastructure upgrades to support their operation and maintenance will be called in the coming years.”
Of the 360 new electric buses bought in the latest tender, 240 of them will be supplied by Chinese automaker BYD at a contract sum of $108.1 million. The electric vehicle giant already has 20 of its K9 electric buses plying public bus routes here, and it will be deploying its new B12 buses for the latest tender.
The other contract went to Cycle & Carriage Automotive, which is partnering with another Chinese manufacturer, Zhongtong Bus, to supply 120 electric buses at a sum of $58.3 million.
LTA said the contracts include an option for the authority to buy up to 60 more electric buses if needed.
In awarding the two contracts, LTA considered the experience and track record of the companies, the technical specifications of their proposed buses, and compliance with local regulations. This was before it looked at the bid prices, LTA said.
The tender, which was called on March 27, was hotly contested with a total of 18 bidders, including international names like Volvo and Scania, and local suppliers and distributors like LexBuild, Goldbell and Hong Seh.
Meanwhile, the charging systems for the new buses will also be rolled out progressively from December 2024. These systems will have “smart” functions to optimise charging speed and time.
A Busways and Shell Singapore consortium will install chargers at the Sengkang West and East Coast depots for about $31.3 million, while Presico Engineering will install chargers at Gali Batu depot for about $14.8 million.
Construction of the depots in Sengkang West and Gali Batu is expected to be completed in 2024, while the depot in East Coast is expected to be completed in 2025.
LTA’s tender also includes the option to install chargers at the future Kim Chuan bus depot and two upcoming integrated transport hubs in Punggol Coast and Pasir Ris. These will be exercised once conditions allow for installation works to proceed.
With the transition to electric buses, Mr Chee said efforts are being stepped up so that technicians here are ready to make the switch.
The Singapore Bus Academy will launch a new programme in December to train technicians on how to safely handle electric and hybrid-electric buses. The first of four modules has already been fully subscribed.
Mr Chee was speaking at the third edition of Singapore BusTech Grand Challenge and the inaugural RailTech Grand Challenge held at ITE College West in Choa Chu Kang, where there was also an emphasis on electrical systems and electric bus-related tasks.
Mr Tan Kim Kee, 30, an automotive technical officer at SMRT Buses, was among 84 people who participated in the challenge on Nov 25. The Malaysian said repairing and maintaining an electric bus is more risky, so safety knowledge is crucial.
He has already undergone three levels of training, which includes a six-month training stint while on the job. “I have confidence, but I think I still need to upgrade and learn more,” he added. - The Straits Times/ANN
